But for the timely intervention of neighbours, a female lawyer, Adachukwu Chukere Okafor would have killed her 11-year-old housemaid simply identified as Happiness Nwafor....CONTINUE READING
Adachukwu, a resident of Onitsha, Anambra State pounced on the minor girl and started brutalising her with hot iron, broken bottle and knife for allegedly touching the private part of her girl child whom Happiness was bathing.
The agonies and cries of the victim attracted neighbours who rushed to the scene and rescued the girl from her hands.
The witnesses promptly notified the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfares of the horrible development.
It was gathered that Adachukwu had abandoned the girl on the street with her relatives and drove away after the act.
The ministry said it was notified of the incident on January 31, 2024, and quickly swung into action by dispatching a team to the scene.
Narrating her ordeal, the minor alleged that she was beaten by her madam for touching her daughter’s body.
Happiness alleged that Adachukwu used a broken bottle, iron and knife on her in just two weeks of her stay.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the suspect allegedly burnt the little girl’s clothes and dropped her off stark naked with her relative known as Ifeoma Muoghalu.
While speaking at the hospital where she was first rushed to in Ogidi, the relative, Ifeoma Muoghalu claimed that the suspect boasted that nothing would happen because she is a lawyer and knows how to work her way out.
Ifeoma equally noted that since the incident, the suspect has not been taking her phone calls.
She also confirmed that the minor was handed over to the lawyer on January 5, 2024, only to be disfigured within the short period of her stay.
The victim, who suffered burns and other injuries on her buttocks, back, hands, legs and private part due to the brutality, was later taken to an undisclosed hospital in Akwa where she has been receiving treatment.
The suspect, who hails from Nkpor is said to be married to an Awka man and she was yet to be arrested as at the time of this report.
Reacting, however, some human rights activists have condemned the brutalization meted out on the young girl, calling on security agencies to arrest Adachukwu, investigate the incident and prosecute her accordingly.
An activist, James Maduka, accused the female lawyer of child abuse, noting that the 11-years-old girl is too young for one to be taken as housemaid.
He said, “This so-called lawyer has committed two different offences and should not be allowed to go scot-free. Aside from torturing the minor, she also contravened the law by taking her as housemaid. I hope this matter will not be swept under the carpet. The minor deserves justice.”
Another activist, Leke Adelaja, urged the Anambra State Government to arrest and seek the prosecution of the suspect, adding that, “Happiness is one out of many children currently being abused secretly. We cannot allow our society to return to the state of nature. So, the government and other relevant stakeholders should rise to this occasion. NGOs in this state should not keep quiet.”
